title: Noneczematous contact dermatitis.
abstract: Irritant or allergic contact dermatitis usually presents as an eczematous process, clinically characterized by erythematoedematovesicous lesions with intense itching in the acute phase. Such manifestations become erythematous-scaly as the condition progresses to the subacute phase and papular-hyperkeratotic in the chronic phase. Not infrequently, however, contact dermatitis presents with noneczematous features. The reasons underlying this clinical polymorphism lie in the different noxae and contact modalities, as well as in the individual susceptibility and the various targeted cutaneous structures. The most represented forms of non-eczematous contact dermatitis include the erythema multiforme-like, the purpuric, the lichenoid, and the pigmented kinds. These clinical entities must obviously be discerned from the corresponding "pure" dermatitis, which are not associated with contact with exogenous agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, Section of Dermatology, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare 1, 70124 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bonamonte
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foti
authors.forename: Michelangelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vestita
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Angelini